Tractor pulled crop harvester

Abstract

A crop harvester having a mobile frame to be pulled by a tractor and movable between paths of travel at opposite sides of the path of travel of the tractor. The frame includes front and rear longitudinal frame members extending transversely of the direction of travel and a generally central transverse frame member connected to the longitudinal frame members above harvesting mechanism mounted in the frame. A draft tongue has a rear end pivotally connected to the frame on a vertical axis adjacent the connection between the front and transverse frame members, and a front end for pivotal connection to a tractor hitch. A fluid pressure operated device is connected to the frame and to the draft tongue for imparting swinging movements to the draft tongue relative to the mobile frame and for holding the draft tongue in desired set positions of the swinging movement thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A tractor pulled crop harvester comprising: a. a wheel supported frame having a generally centrally located transverse frame member extending in the direction of travel of the frame;   b. a harvesting mechanism mounted in said frame below said transverse frame member and rearwardly of the forward end of said transverse frame member;   c. a draft tongue which comprises front and rear tongue sections, each having front and rear ends, characterized by means pivotally securing the front end of said rear section to the rear end of said front section on a generally vertical axis, and means for imparting pivotal movement to one of said sections relative to the other thereof and for holding said sections in different positions of swinging movement relative to each other;   d. pivot means connecting said rear end of said rear tongue section of said draft tongue to said frame by pivotal attachment to the forward end of said transverse frame member for swinging movements of said draft tongue relative to said frame on an axis parallel to the axis of swinging movement of said front and rear tongue sections;   e. means on the front end of said front tongue section of said draft tongue for pivotal connection on a generally vertical axis to a tractor hitch; and   f. power operated means on said frame and draft tongue for imparting said swinging movements to said draft tongue and for holding said draft tongue in desired positions of swinging movement thereof.   
     
     
       2. The harvester defined in claim 1 in which said means for imparting pivotal movement to one of said sections comprises a fluid pressure operated motor having a pair of relatively movable parts each of which is connected to a different one of said tongue sections. 
     
     
       3. The harvester defined in claim 1 in which said means for imparting pivotal movement to one of said sections relative to the other thereof is disposed to impart said pivotal movement to said front section relative to said rear section responsive to swinging movement imparted to said draft tongue by said power operated means. 
     
     
       4. The harvester defined in claim 3 in which said means for imparting pivotal movements to one of said sections comprises a control arm having one end pivotally connected to said frame on a generally vertical axis and an opposite end pivotally connected to said front draft tongue section on an axis parallel to the pivot axis at said one end of the control arm. 
     
     
       5. The harvester defined in claim 1 in which said frame includes front and rear longitudinal frame members extending transversely of the direction of travel of the frame, and a pair of end frame members, characterized by mounting means pivotally connecting said transverse frame member to said rear frame member for swinging movements on a horizontal axis extending transversely of the direction of travel of said frame, and adjustment means connecting the opposite ends of said front frame member to said end frame members for varying the angular relationship of the frame with the ground about the axis of pivotal movement of said mounting means.